STEM at Mountain Island

Professional Development

• Teachers took in excess of 1600 hours of STEM related PD in 2010-11 and over the summer

• Mountain Island was the only school selected to send a team (on scholarship) to attend a five day conference in Baltimore sponsored by the Urban Science Leadership Academy and the National Science Teachers Association.

Staffing• We have added a full time Science Facilitator.

Doreen Weese now gives us full time coverage in the Science Lab and all students rotate through the lab regularly.

• We have added a full time Technology Facilitator. Heather Hall now staffs the Computer Lab full time and students rotate through the lab regularly.

Summer

• Mountain Island hosted Camp Invention. Take a look at the website for pics.

• New site (www.mountainislandstem.org) was launched. We have the capacity to build a data base of contacts through this site.

Robotics

Exceptional Response, Increased by Two Teams,

Same Funding Model

Contracted with Cyber Kids for two US First/Aquabot Teams, 16

Slots, Corporate Sponsor/US Navy Grant

Began with STEMpalooza Teams, Time Warner Connect a Million Minds Grant, Won

Third Place

Foundation for Future Robotics Program

Centered on a Robotics Lab Format that can be Utilized for In School or Before/After School Uses. Constant Evaluation and Refinement.

Activities and Opportunities for All Grades (K-5), Expandable to 8th

Creates a Series of “Teams” Leading

to US First

Materials Available for

Creative Build

Includes Aqua Botics

Board of Expert Advisors

Engineering is Elementary

• Social Studies, Geography, Language

• STEM

• Writing• Literacy

Each Unit is based on a story. Each Story is

told in book form

Written description of observations and

conclusionsEach Story is based in

a different country, told by a different

childEach Unit has a problem to solve.

(Inquiry/Engineering) Can use Smart Boards to Examine Countries

(Technology)

EIE UnitsUnit/Science Topic Engineering Field Unit/Science Topic Engineering Field

Catching the Wind, Designing Windmills (Wind & Weather)

Mechanical A Stick in the Mud, Evaluating a Landscape (Landforms)

Geotechnical

Water, Water Everywhere, Designing Water Filters (Water)

Environmental Thinking Inside the Box, Designing Plant Packages (Plants)

Package

A Sticky Situation, Designing Walls (Earth Materials)

Materials The Attraction is Obvious, Designing Magley Systems (Magnetism)

Transportation

To Get to the Other Side, Designing Bridges (Balances and Forces)

Civil Now You’re Cooking, Designing Solar Ovens (Energy)

Green

Marvelous Machines, Making Work Easier (Simple Machines)

Industrial It’s a Long Way Down, Designing Parachutes (Astronomy)

Aerospace

Sounds Like Fun, Seeing Animal Sounds (Sound)

AcousticalCommunication

Solid as a Rock, Replicating an Artifact (Rocks & Minerals)

Materials

The Best of Bugs, Designing Hand Pollinators (Insects/Plants)

Agricultural A Slick Solution, Cleaning Up an Oil Spill (Ecosystems)

Environmental

Just Passing Through, Designing Model Membranes (Organisms)

Bioengineering Taking the Plunge, Designing Submersibles (Sinking and Floating)

Ocean

An Alarming Idea, Designing Alarm Circuits (Electricity)

Electrical FUTURE: Light Optical

A Work in Progress, Improving a Play Dough Process (Solids & Liquids)

Chemical FUTURE: Human Body Biomedical

Catawba River District• Created to promote sustainability and green

energy in our community. At the core to create an identity for our community and to strengthen and grow the presence of middle class residents.

• We were not originally included• There are only four schools targeted for labs.

Mountain Island is targeted for two. (Robotics and Energy)

• Great potential, long way to go.

Mountain Island Science Fair

• Our Date TBA (Estimate January)

• Proceeding onto Regional Fair at UNC Charlotte in February

• Possibility of Proceeding to State Competition

First Annual Science Fair at Mountain Island with selected winners advancing to the Regional Science Fair

Intangibles• We have built strong support within CMS and

are gaining support in the BOE• We have developed or strengthened

relationships outside the school• Word is getting out about what we are doing.

We hear it when visiting other schools• There is a momentum we need to capitalize

on in the first two quarters

Still Work to be Done• Getting everyone to be fully comfortable with

what STEM is• Being able to communicate the “what” and

“why” of STEM (elevator speech)• Bringing our parents fully into STEM

(communication and volunteering)• Consistent funding sources• Continue to build awareness in the community

Next Best Opportunity to Connect• First ever STEM Night, October 20th

• Dinner will be served (Bravo) at no cost to the attendees

• Showcase of STEM learning• Breakout discussion opportunities• NEED A STRONG TURNOUT• We will be inviting many supporters from

outside the school as well as some we are courting

Specific Needs• Parent volunteers particularly with

engineering talents/background

• Parents with a mastery of Google Sketch Up software

• Parents to coach teams like Odyssey of the Mind, Lego Club, etc.